The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-16
"THlSIS The GOLDEN AGE"
SAYS THE GREATEST OF ENGLISH
SPEAKING MEN,
In Burst OF Enthusiasm, as He Re
views the History Of the Past
Fifty Years.

LONDON, January 1.-The Chronicle,
In its review Of the opening number
OF The Ninetsenh Century magazine for
1887, to which Mr.. GLADSTONE contrib
uted the first article, says: 1t is Eat
ural and appropriate that one who has
been thrice Pine Minister, and who
is still, Ia spite of political differences,
acknowledged as the most prominent
Euglishman of our time, should usher
in the Jubies Year with kiud of ju.
dicial summing up of the character OF
the half century which is just over.
Mr.. Gladstone takes the opportunity
of review of Lord Tennyson's last
work to examine whether the Lsu-
reate's pessimist view OF the condl'
ton of England is true or not. Al
though find ng numerous blois on our
national record, his decision is decid-
ediy hopeful aud favorable. Here is
striking pas sage in which the England
of today is contrasted with the Eng
land of fifty years ago.
"The Prophet of the now 'Locksley
Hall records sgainst u3 many sad, and
even shameful, defaults. They are
not to be denied, and the liet probably
might be heightened. The youngest
among US will not see the day in
which new social problems will have
ceased to spring az from the depths,
and vex even the most succ ssstul
solvers OF the old; or in which this
proud and great Eoglish nation will
not have cause, in its ranks and or
deIs, 10 bow its head before the Judge
Eternal and humbly confess to for
gotten duties or wasted and neglected
Opportunities. 1t is well to be 70.
minded, and in tones such as make
the deaf man hear, of ely children
who soak ard blacken eoul and sense
in city slime; of maidens cast by
thousands on the street; OF the seam.
stress scrimped of her daily bread; Of
dwellings misersbly crowded; of fever
as the result; even Of incest in thu
warrens OF the poor On the last
named item and the group of ideas
Herewith associated, scarcely suited
for discussion here, ] am not sure that
the warrens If the poor have more
to fear from rigld investigation than
other and more spacious habi-
tations. But a word on the
rest. Take FIRST the city child as he is
described. For one such child now
there were ten, perhaps twenty, fifty
years back. A very large, and still
increasing proportion of these children
have been brought under the regular
training and discipline of the school.
Take the mRidens who are now, as
they we're then, cast by thousands on
the street. But then, il one among
them were stricken with penitence
and sought for place in which to
hide her head, she found it only in
the pomP OF paid institutions, and in
q help well meant, no doubt, vet car
rying little of what was most essential,
sympa hetic discrimination, aud mild,
nay even tender cHe. Within the
half century a new chapter has opened.
Faith and love have gone forth into
the field. Specimens OF womankind,
sometimes the very bsst and highest,
have not deemed this quest OF souls
beneath them. Scrimping of wages,
no doubt, there ia and was. But the
fair wage OF today is far higher than
it was then, and the unfair wage is
assumably not lower. Miserable and
their result, both then and now. But
legislation his in the interval made its
attempts in earnest; and if this was
with awkward aud ungainly hand,
private munificence or enterprise is
dotling our city areas with worthy
dwellings. Above all, have we not to
record in this behalf martyred lives,
such az those OF Denison end Toyn-
bee? Or shall we refuss honorable
mention to the not less devott d lives,
still happily retained, of such parsons
IS Miss OGtavia Hill? With all this
there was happily grown up not only
fast general extension OF benevolent
and missionary means, but a great
parocbisl machinery OF domestic visit
alton, charged with comfort and bless.
ing to the needy, and spread over so
wide circle, that what was formerly
en- exception may now with some con-
fidence DO said TO be the rule. If
insUfficiencies have come to be
more keenly felt is that be.
cause they are greater, or because
there is a boider and better
trained disposition to feel them? The
evils which ourgProphet rightly seeks
TO csuterizs with a rsdhOt iron, we're
rank among ia even in the days when
Hogarth, 4 pioneer of reformation,
drew his Beer 81 eet and hie Gin lane.
They grew with population and with
wealth, but they grew unnoticed I'M
til near the period when the earliest
LOcksley Hall chesred the hearts OF
those who sought to mend the world.
Ii, fifty years ago, censure was ap-
peased and hopefulness encouraged,
is there any reason now why hope
should be put under an extinguisher
and censure sh0u d hold ali the
ground?'
In the domain of politics Mr.. Glad
stone finds, without any difficulty,
great improvements, which be pro-
ceeds to catalogue. He instances the
reform OF the criminal code, the abo-
lition of res trictions on the workman's
combinations, the reform Of the poor
law, employers liability, factory acts,
improved education, savings banks
and postal facilities, a fres press, the
ballot, and enlarged represent ition.
The advantages to the poor of recent
changes are thus neatly summed up:
upon the whole, among the results
of the last half century TO them, are,
that they work fewer hours, that for
these reduced hours they receive in
creased wages, and that with these in
creased wages they purchase at dimin
ished rates almost every article, except
tobacco and spirits, of which the price
can be affected by the acts of the Leg
islature."
The author Of the article admits that
it would be endless to recall all the in
stances in which relief has been afford
ed, during the period under review, to
suffering industry aud imperiled cap
ital. Dissenters, farmers, women,
municipalities, all have benefited. Is
there any political significance in the
compliment to Mr.. Chamberlain con-
tanned in the following sentence:
"The application of the elective